Charles Hawthorne

Charles Hawthorne (1872–1930) was an influential American painter and teacher best known for his vibrant and honest depictions of everyday life and his foundational role in American art education. Born in Lodi, Illinois, Hawthorne grew up in Maine and later moved to New York City, where he studied at the Art Students League under William Merritt Chase. He distinguished himself as a portraitist and genre painter, but his most enduring legacy arose from his dedication to teaching.

In 1899, Hawthorne founded the Cape Cod School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts, which became the first outdoor summer school for figure painting in the United States. There, he taught generations of artists to observe and capture the effects of natural light and color on form, encouraging a direct, impressionistic approach to painting. Known for his sensitive palette and keen sense of atmosphere, Hawthorne’s work often depicted fishermen, local townsfolk, and the coastal landscapes of Provincetown.

His teaching philosophy emphasized seeing "the big color relations" in nature, and he instilled in his students a deep respect for honest observation. Today, Charles Hawthorne is remembered both as a gifted painter and as a pioneering educational force whose influence extends throughout American art history.